Regeneration

I got my tattoo yesterday, Anchor, dandelion, Starfish.  I know that many would look at this trio and wonder why I would choose to marry them forever on the top of my foot.  I look at them and see all the things that God is teaching me, and is continuing to teach me through these symbols.  First the anchor.  It is a symbol of staying anchored to Christ, as my foundation through any storm of life.  I find it ironic that the top part of an anchor is even in the shape of the cross.  The source of my salvation.  That because of this symbol I have the right to continue to come to Christ and hide in the shelter of His loving salvation.  I have inherited the right to have Him as my cornerstone and foundation. 

Then the dandelions.  They are my symbol of purpose.  To be exactly what God has created me to be.  Although simple, and perhaps unassuming in nature.  Often misunderstood, and rarely seen for their beauty or what they are contributing, they often go unnoticed through their whole life cycle.  However, they have a simple job, to plant as many seeds as possible so that new life can begin.  Sometimes reaching farther than they could ever reach being rooted in one place.  They release their seeds and leave it up to the power of the creator to plant them, water them, and cause them to grow.  The same I hope will be true of my life, and what I hope God will use me to accomplish.  To plant seeds simply by being what He created me to be.  

Then the starfish.  So much symbolism stems from this little creature.  It’s very nature of regeneration would be enough, but there’s more.  It’s a reminder to me of the importance of one soul.  Mine and others.  That God cares for each of us with great ardor.  The same ardor we should have for those around us.  This is symbolized in the story of the starfish.  

The story begins with 1,000’s of starfish being washed up on shore.  A man stands tossing them one, by one, back into the ocean.  As another man strolls along the beach he stops and watches the man’s “futile” attempt to save all the starfish on the beach.   He finally says, “Why are you doing this? It can’t possibly make a difference?!”  As the man tosses another starfish back into the ocean, and calmly replies, “It made a difference to that one.” 

This tale reminds me to never think that any person or any task is too unimportant.  As with the significance of the dandelion, so it is with the starfish.  We all have a role to play, and the enemy and the world would like us to believe that what we do is too small and insignificant to change anything.  However, for the “one”, the one we reach out to, it could be life giving.   And if Jesus would have died for just one, than I can give my life to “just one.” 

However, the starfish’s meaning goes still deeper.  A starfish can lose whole limbs and yet survive.  Then miraculously grow yet another limb.  Often a starfish loses it’s limbs because of an attacker.  In order to save it’s own life it releases, of it’s own free will, a necessary limb.  This is amazing to me, because it is a great metaphor for my walk with the Lord.  Sometimes there are things that seem like they are so important, like a starfish’s extremities, and yet if I would release them I would not only be blessed with new life, I would save myself from even more severe losses.  It reminds me of God’s “severe mercy”.  The mercy that would choose to amputate a limb, then see us in the clutches of sin.  And then, out of that mercy, He births something new out of what we let go.  Regeneration and life to the fullest born from loss.  

After a year of “amputations” I sense a new season of regeneration coming, although for now, I still notice the absence of that “limb” or even two.  However, one thing I am sure of, I am anchored to Him and He will take care of me no matter how many limbs are missing.  I am safe, protected, and loved with seeds to plant.